Digg/Buzz It Up

POLITICO 44

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell usually has his finger on the pulse of races ranging from the governor’s mansion to the local county board — and his decisions to endorse or not endorse can make or break a career here.

But that wasn’t the case with Trey Grayson, who lost soundly Tuesday night to insurgent candidate Rand Paul — despite being McConnell’s handpicked candidate, despite the spate of former McConnell aides who worked on his campaign, despite the fundraising support and strategic advice McConnell provided and despite the rare public endorsement McConnell gave him.

How much will it hurt McConnell?

“The fact that he supported Trey Grayson is an abomination if you call yourself a conservative in my book,” said Dave Barnett, a 38-year-old engineer who lives north of Lexington and is an avid Paul supporter. “I’m hoping his current term is his last term.”

Barnett’s views are in the minority among Paul boosters, according to a recent poll that found 64 percent of the Senate candidate’s supporters approve of McConnell’s job performance. But McConnell’s decision to put himself in the middle of a civil war has created tension and ruffled feathers in GOP circles in his state, according to Republican activists and politicians here.

Most Republicans do blame Grayson’s loss squarely on the candidate himself. But from the start, McConnell’s handling of the Senate race put him in hot water with some Kentucky Republicans. While McConnell had the backing of much of the party’s establishment, his decision to quietly push Sen. Jim Bunning to retire rather than run for reelection angered many Bunning allies in the conservative-rich northern part of the state. And signals his camp sent soon after that he would likely back Grayson were viewed by some as a pre-emptive strike against other candidates thinking of getting in.

Some say McConnell had little choice.

“Could McConnell have gotten behind a different alternative to Sen. Bunning? Perhaps,” said Scott Jennings, a Republican strategist based in Louisville. “On paper, Grayson looked like a good decision, and Sen. Bunning looked rather unelectable. No one bats a thousand in politics, and no one can predict the future, especially in such a volatile environment.”

But McConnell’s decision to announce his endorsement of Grayson also showed a shortcoming in his polling operation.

After ads McConnell cut this month on Grayson’s behalf, McConnell confidants believed that the senator’s public endorsement could potentially put an additional 5 percent of GOP voters in Grayson’s camp. McConnell’s pollster, who was working for the Grayson campaign, was projecting that Grayson was neck and neck with Paul heading into Election Day.

Those predictions were flat wrong, with Paul ending up trouncing Grayson 59 percent to 35 percent, raising questions about the usually spot-on political chops of McConnell’s team.

Everthing this man has done is a misstep. Preventing his party from voting on anything only enhances the perception of "the party of no". McConnell is the kid who bring s the ball to the playground then refuses to let anyone play with it. We all hated that kid, didn't we?

But the false start with Grayson is an unusual misstep for a man who has spent his career living and breathing Kentucky politics. For years, McConnell has quietly identified and recruited the best candidates for offices throughout the state, and once they’re in the race, his level of involvement can vary from dispensing his trusted personnel to helping craft an ad campaign.

If a guy like McConnell doesn't understand his own party's grass roots voter, what does that say about Republican leadership nationwide?

If a guy like McConnell doesn't understand his own party's grass roots voter, what does that say about Republican leadership nationwide?

It's starting to look like the GOP and all of its fringe elements (aka tea "party") are under some kind of curse. Perhaps their sick and twisted claims and practice of being "good Christian family men" is getting some notice from *someone* in a position of power and they are getting their comeuppance. They can't seem, as a GROUP, to make a right move or decision for some time now.

Did you see the uber-slimy Rand Paul on Rachel Maddow's show last night? He is NOTHING like his father.

Rand Paul thinks a private business should legally be able to exclude whomever they choose based upon race. Boy, that'll be tough to sell. Rand Paul's win is a huge boost to democrats. Great news for republicans: Some 300,000 people voted republicans in Kentucky. Some 500,000 voted democrat.

From what I am seeing the fact that a hand picked candidate from any party to think he will automatically win is a farce. The people of this country, especially moderate conservatives and all extreme conservatives, plus many Democrat individuals are leery of incumbents and professional politicians. The trust of watching what has taken place since January 2008, when Barack Obama took over the white house and he with his hand picked liberal cronies, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid have gone against the tide of public opinion that grows more in favor of less involvement of thye government in their lives. We the people have lost trust in the big government and takeover of our lives and are wanting them all to go and be replaced. It has been evident in Republican primaries and Democrat primaries show newcomers who haven't been tainted by connection to the cuyrrent establishment. Obama said it himself, "IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE" and people are showing that they want real change not the political fovoritism they still see daily !

From what I am seeing the fact that a hand picked candidate from any party to think he will automatically win is a farce. The people of this country, especially moderate conservatives and all extreme conservatives, plus many Democrat individuals are leery of incumbents and professional politicians. The trust of watching what has taken place since January 2009, when Barack Obama took over the white house and he with his hand picked liberal cronies, plus Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid have gone against the tide of public opinion that grows more in favor of less involvement of the government in their lives. We the people have lost trust in the big government and takeover of our lives and are wanting them all to go and be replaced. It has been evident in Republican primaries and Democrat primaries show newcomers who haven't been tainted by connection to the current establishment. Obama said it himself, "IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE" and people are showing that they want real change not the political favoritism they still see daily !

That's pretty funny about seeing Rand Paul on Maddow's show. How many people watch that show? Although you gotta give him credit for going on there . . . . had to be a pretty hostile environment. As for slimey, I'll take a guy who has gone through medical school (nobody's daddy can do that for you, and all the money in the world can't buy it) and operates a successful practice over inherited name and money as in the Kennedy clan.

McConnell is a joke. The leader of the Republican minority has no power whatsoever. A Reid vs McConnell election would be the first election in history where no one would show up to vote. When the political parties are led by fools of this magnitude, the fact we are bankrupting before our very eyes is easy to explain. Throw an insane Peloser into the mix, its over folks.

Here in Kentucky, we take a dim view of anyone, especially one of our own pushing another out. McConnell seems to forget his roots or he never would have pulled the Bunning fiasco. Manners seem to be forgotten after all that time up North...

Sarah do your job, as mother of a Down Syndrome baby (a genetic condition). Its in your genes, he got it from you. Stop thinking of yourself, and think of this baby who needs your love. At least for the first five years of his life,when his brain is developing the most. Your mother must have helped you, It seems to your IQ is at least 90-95 . Give the kid a chance, read to him, it could help you too. He could be POTUS some day;(G.W.Bush did it)

The question republicans need to answer is if they support the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to the new face of the GOP and the Tea Party, Rand Paul, he wouldn't have voted for it.

Yet the GOP is holding a "UNITY" meeting on Saturday. Is this the type of "UNITY" that the GOP wants for America? Embracing a Country Club Tea Party Racist? Really?

Let's be fair. Rand Paul is not a racist. Libertarian objections to certain aspects of civil rights legislation is on a clear priniciple--one that I disagree with, but still a clear principle. It's not because of racism.

"McConnell says Paul will have his full support in the general election."

If this is true, why was McConnell's endorsement and picture yanked from Rand Paul's website home page sometime today? Is McConnell running from Paul's truly igonrant remarks about the Civil Rights Act or is Paul distancing himself from someone whose political clout is tanking as fast as Paul's election chances?

I can't wait for the full fury of the canbalism that's going to take place as establishment Republicans and Tea Baggers face off for control of the GOP state parties. Hopefully, they'll mimic Maine and Utah.